Reflecting on General Education

Explain what you have learned about the principles guiding general education from this course and the courses you have taken in the past. What are the most important concepts you have learned (a) from this course and (b) throughout your time as a university student? What are your plans for putting your education to use within your community? How might your newly-acquired knowledge and skills shape your personal and professional development?

Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims with examples from required material(s) and/or other scholarly sources, and properly cite any references. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts by Day 7.

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Final Research Paper

Final Research Paper

Research the responsibility of a critical thinker in a contemporary society. You may choose any topic that deals with a contemporary social concern. Examine the principles of critical thought in relation to the chosen societal concern, and consider the importance of ethics, moral reasoning, a research-based process to search for truth, and the advantages of information technology in gathering data.

Potential social concerns include, but are not limited to health (e.g., obesity, smoking, or underage drinking), poverty (e.g., homelessness, basic needs, or transportation issues), family relations and dynamics (e.g., teen violence, physical abuse, depression, or suicide), social media (e.g., privacy), immigration (e.g., illegal), and education (e.g., plagiarism and/or cheating).

Your Final Research Paper should:

Include a literature review of two scholarly sources based on the selected contemporary issue. Analyze the validity of the author’s arguments and/or biases. Explain how academic knowledge impacts the social elements and institutions of both local and global communities. Assess how the principles of active citizenship could impact the contemporary issue during the next five to ten years. Include at least one reference to a multimedia component (i.e., podcast, interactive website, blog, or video) and evaluate the relevance of this piece in relationship to academic knowledge and the selected issue.

The paper must be eight to ten pages in length (excluding the title and reference pages) and formatted according to APA style. You must use at least five scholarly sources, three of which can be found in the Ashford Online Library. Two of the five sources must be the two articles that your topic is based on. The remaining three are to be your secondary sources. Cite your sources within the text of your paper and on the reference page. For information regarding APA, including samples and tutorials, visit the Ashford Writing Center within the Learning Resources tab on the left navigation toolbar.

Writing the Final Research Paper
The Final Research Paper:

Must be eight to ten double-spaced pages in length, and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. Must include a title page with the following: Title of paper Student’s name Course name and number Instructor’s name Date submitted Must begin with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct thesis statement. Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought. Must end with a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis. Must use at least five scholarly sources, including a minimum of three from the Ashford Online Library. Must document all sources in APA style, as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. Must include a separate reference page, formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.

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All Discussion Questions

Week 1 DQ1

Final Research Paper Topic and Plan

The first step in the research process is selecting a topic that is both interesting and manageable. For this discussion, complete the following:

Review the Final Research Paper instructions in Week Five, and identify three potential research topics. Describe methods that may be helpful in identifying and narrowing your research paper topic. Examine two scholarly sources that may prove valuable as you seek to defend your claims. Address why scholarly sources should be used to support your writing on the selected topic.

Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims with examples from required material(s) and/or other scholarly sources, and properly cite any references. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts by Day 7.

Week 1 DQ2

Social Media

The introduction of new technologies has significantly affected the social lives of many. These changes, which reflect how people use technology to interact, provide an example of trends that you might examine in your Final Research Paper. For this discussion, identify a significant change that has occurred in the way people communicate and share information, and reflect on the impact this change has had on individuals and society in general today (local and global). Keep in mind that not all social trends affect all groups in society to the same degree. In addition, examine the influence of social media on an individual’s personal and professional pursuits.

Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims with examples from required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts by Day 7.
Week 2 DQ1

Professional Resume and Cover Letter

Create a professional resume and cover letter for a position within your selected industry, and attach a copy to this discussion forum.

Ashford University’s Career Services department can provide assistance with writing resumes and cover letters.  Please visit the Student Portal Homepage (https://student.ashford.edu/) to access the Resume Builder ), listed under Career Services in the right column. Students who have created professional resumes and need critiquing and proofing, but who do not need the resume builder, can contract career services directly at careerservices@ashford.edu.

Respond to at least three of your classmates’ posts by Day 7, providing both positive and constructive feedback.
Week 3 DQ1

Social Capital

Read  “Bowling Alone”: An interview with Robert Putnam about America’s collapsing civic life (http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/DETOC/assoc/aahe.html). For this discussion, complete the following:

In your own words, describe what is meant by the term “social capital.” Examine the influences of social connections and technology and civic engagement in academic and professional pursuits. Evaluate the significance of social capital in the context of global citizenship and multicultural understanding.

Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. In addition to the assigned reading, support your answer with research from at least one scholarly source, and properly cite any references. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts by Day 7.

Week 3 DQ2

Federal Policy

In recent years, immigration, health care reform, and fiscal policy have emerged as key issues in U.S. federal policy. There are many sides to each debate, and research is proliferating.

Using the Ashford Online Library, identify a scholarly article that answers research questions associated with the debate over immigration, health care reform, or fiscal policy (select one). Apply the principles of critical thinking to the selected issue. Cite the article or website that contains the research. Then, describe the findings of this research and provide your perspective on the validity of the findings.

Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims with examples from required material(s) and/or other scholarly sources, and properly cite any references. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts by Day 7.
Week 4 DQ1

Call to Action

Review The Surgeon General’s Vision for a Healthy and Fit Nation 2010. Then, locate a news article or video related to obesity. Identify the source and evaluate the impact of the report, in relation to the media attention and focus on the topic of obesity. How did the report and media coverage create a sense of urgency to move the audience from complacency to action? In what ways do persuasive arguments and presentations directed toward general audiences create a call to action for reform?

Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims with examples from required material(s) and/or other scholarly sources, and properly cite any references. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts by Day 7.
Week 4 DQ2

Final Research Paper Progress

At this point in the course, you should have a strong draft of your Final Research Paper. Share your progress on the Final Research Paper, including the following:

Identify the Final Research Paper topic. What influenced you to make this choice? Describe your rationale for selecting that topic in relation to your academic and career pursuits. Provide your thesis statement. Discuss interesting finds and/or frustrations that you have encountered in your research.

Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts by Day 7. In response to your classmates, offer some suggestions to help them with their research, and/or suggest resources that you believe would aid them with problems they may be encountering.
Week 5 DQ1

Technology and Globalization

Examine the relationship between advances in technology and the responsibilities of global citizenship. Describe how technology has changed the way in which people pursue knowledge and how they address social concerns. Assess the challenges and benefits of a technical and global community, and recognize the impact of technological and global influences in your life.

Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims with examples from required material(s) and/or other scholarly sources, and properly cite any references. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts by Day 7.
Week 5 DQ2

Reflecting on General Education

Explain what you have learned about the principles guiding general education from this course and the courses you have taken in the past. What are the most important concepts you have learned (a) from this course and (b) throughout your time as a university student? What are your plans for putting your education to use within your community? How might your newly-acquired knowledge and skills shape your personal and professional development?

Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims with examples from required material(s) and/or other scholarly sources, and properly cite any references. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts by Day 7.

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Influences on the Constitution Table

Individual Assignment: Influences on the Constitution Table

Complete the University of Phoenix Material: Influences on the Constitution Table located on the student website.

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Branches of Government

Learning Team Assignment: Branches of Government Paper

Resource: Articles I, II, and III of the Constitution located in the appendices of the text

Write a 1,050- to 1,400-word paper in which you answer the following questions:

What were the reasons America’s forefathers divided the government into the legislative, judicial, and presidential branches? How does this benefit the three branches?

What obstacles do the division of power present to enactment of important legislation?

How was the conflict between supporters of a strong federal government and champions of states’ rights characterized then as opposed to now? Identify specific issues.

Cite at least four references to support the content of your paper.

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

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Bill of Rights and Amendments Paper

Individual Assignment: Bill of Rights and Amendments Paper

Resource: Article V of the Constitution and the 27 amendments in the Appendixes of the text

Write a 1,400- to 1,750-word paper in which you answer the following questions:

How and why do amendments become part of the Constitution?

What problems with the original document motivated the adoption of the Bill of Rights?

What have been the effects of the Bill of Rights?

What problems with the original document, or changes in society, led to later amendments? Choose one of the following groups to discuss:

Thirteenth through Fifteenth Amendments

Seventeenth, Nineteenth, Twenty-Third, Twenty-Fourth, and Twenty-Sixth Amendments

Twelfth, Twenty-Second, and Twenty-Fifth Amendments

What have been the effects of these later Amendments?

Cite at least three sources to support the content of your paper.

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

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Reflections on the First Amendment Paper

Individual Assignment: Reflections on the First Amendment Paper

Write a 1,400- to 1,750-word paper in which you discuss at least three significant cases related to three of the provisions (i.e. one case for each provision you select) of the First Amendment.

Evaluate the rights and responsibilities that the Constitution gives American citizens. Answer the following questions in your paper:

To what extent does the Constitution protect the right of privacy?

Why did each case need to be heard and interpreted by the Supreme Court?

How does the Supreme Court’s decision in each case continue to affect the rights of American citizens today?

Cite at least three sources to support the content of your paper.

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

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Learning Team Assignment / U.S. Constitutional Amendment Proposal and Presentation

Learning Team Assignment: U.S. Constitutional Amendment Proposal and Presentation

Constitutional Amendments exist to correct a perceived problem with the existing document. In Week Three, you examined what has been changed so far. Each team will consider a possible change.

Team A: Should the Constitution be amended to limit representatives, senators, and members of the judiciary to 12 years of total service?

Team B: Should the Constitution be amended to give voters the right to recall an officer in the legislative branch, executive branch, or judicial branch, before the officer’s term expires?

Team C: Should the Constitution be amended to give voters the power to enact or reject laws by ballot initiative, as a direct method in addition to the legislative authority of Congress?

Team D: Should the Constitution be amended to give the president a line-item veto—instead of being required either to sign an entire bill—or veto the entire bill?

 

Team E: Should the Constitution be amended to regulate the proportion of representatives so that each would represent no more than 50,000 citizens?

Write a 1,400- to 1,750-word paper in which you discuss an amendment that responds to the issue presented to the team.

Discuss good and bad outcomes if such an amendment were adopted.

Cite a minimum of three sources to support the content of your paper.

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

Create a 10- to 12-slide Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentation to accompany the paper.

Present the U.S. Constitutional Amendment Proposal presentation.

For Online, these are Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentations with notes.

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Individual Assignment / Family Tree Presentation

Produce a family tree for at least three generations of your family or a friend’s family following these seven genetic traits:

·  Eye color

·  Hair color

·  Dominant hand

·  Height

·  Widow’s peak

·  Hitchhiker’s thumb

·  A family genetic disorder of your choice

Summarize the inheritance of traits through meiosis and how it relates to genetics.

Prepare a 5- to 6-slide Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentation illustrating your findings and summarizing the inheritance of traits.

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Learning Team Assignment / Domestication Presentation

Domestication Presentation:  Choose one or more of the following domesticated animal species: dogs, cats, cows, chickens, pigeons, sheep, goats, llamas, pigs, or guinea pigs.  

Prepare an 8 to 10-slide PowerPoint Presentation with speaker notes.  Your presentation should include information on domestication (artificial selection) in general and how it relates to evolution.  Discuss specialized structures in your chosen animal(s) and how/why they have been selected for in that animal by humans.

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